The food industry’s must-attend events for 2026

In a nutshell

• 2026 is shaping up to be a defining year for the food industry
• Tightening regulations, rising sustainability expectations and increasing supply-chain risk are driving change
• This guide highlights the must-attend food industry events for 2026
• It covers food safety, quality, sustainability, protein, procurement and regulatory change
  

Covering topics from FSMA 204 and traceability to ESG reporting and decarbonisation, these are the industry conferences and events that will offer your business practical insight, peer benchmarking and direct access to industry experts – helping you stay compliant, informed and competitive throughout the year.

As the food industry continues to evolve, in-person events remain a valuable way for technical, sustainability and procurement teams to stay aligned with emerging trends, regulatory expectations and new solutions. These forums provide direct insight from regulators, retailers, certification bodies and industry leaders – helping organisations understand what’s coming next and how others are responding. 

In a year that is bound to be shaped by evolving regulations, sustainability reporting demands and shifting supply chain pressures, these events help teams benchmark performance, identify improvement opportunities and develop more connected decision-making across their organisation. 

Why industry events matter 

Understanding regulatory and retailer expectations 

With rules tightening around food safety, sustainability and traceability, events provide clarity on upcoming requirements and the practical actions companies must take. 

Exchanging best practice with industry peers 

These events serve to highlight real examples of what’s working across the sector — helping teams compare approaches and identify improvement areas. 

Access to emerging technology and digital tools 

Digitisation is central to managing supply chain risk and compliance. Events offer a first look at platforms that streamline supplier oversight, data sharing and reporting. 

Strengthening cross-functional alignment 

Insights gathered help teams align strategy, assess risk and support leadership decision-making. 

The top food industry events to attend for 2026 

Proactive Food Safety Conference  

Type: Food Safety & Quality 
Date: 22 January 2026 
Location: Manchester, UK 

This conference brings together food safety leaders to explore prevention-led approaches, incident reduction practices and regulatory updates. It remains a key forum for understanding how retailers and auditors expect businesses to manage evolving risks. 

Why it’s important

Sustainable Foods 2026 

Type: Sustainability 
Date: 28-29 January 2026 
Location: London, UK 

Sustainable Foods focuses on ESG, net-zero strategy, Scope 3 reporting, regenerative sourcing and packaging reduction. With continued pressure from regulators and retailers, the event provides insight into where sustainability expectations are moving next. 

Why it’s important

BRCGS Connect Europe 2026 

Team: Food Safety & Quality 
Date: 12-13 February 2026 
Location: London, UK 

This is a must-attend for BRCGS-certified sites. Attendees gain clarity on certification requirements, audit trends and expected changes to standards. 

Why it’s important

Annual Meat Conference (AMC) – NAMI 

Team: Protein 
Date: 2-4 March 2026 
Location: Maryland, USA 
 
AMC brings together protein supply chain leaders, retailers, processors and category experts. It focuses on protein trends, retail dynamics, consumer behaviour and market forecasting. 

Why it’s important

 IFT First Annual Event & Expo 

Team: Food Safety & Quality 
Date:  12–15 July 2026
Location: Chicago, USA 

IFT First brings together food scientists, technologists and manufacturers to explore the innovation and applied science side of food safety — from additives and processing to emerging detection technology. It's a strong forum for tracking where food science is heading before it reaches regulation.

Why it's important

New Food Conference  

Team: Sustainability & Protein
Date:  25 August 2026 
Location: Berlin, Germany 

Focused on alternative proteins and the wider European sustainability agenda, this event covers market trends, policy developments and emerging tech in the plant-based and novel protein space — relevant as protein diversification continues to reshape sourcing strategies.

Why it's important

FMI Annual Business Conference 

Team: Procurement & Retail
Date: 14–17 September 2026
Location: Orlando, USA 

FMI's ABC is a joint business planning event bringing together senior leaders from food retail and their supplier partners. It's a valuable space for understanding retailer priorities and building the relationships that shape procurement strategy for the year ahead.

Why it's important

NAFS (North American Food Safety) Conference 

Team: Food Safety & Quality 
Date: 5-7 October 2026 
Location: Texas, USA 

NAFS is one of the most influential global food safety events. It covers risk management, global regulatory change, FSMA 204, incident reduction and cross-border supply chain assurance. 

Why it’s important

Proactive Food Safety Conference  

Team: Food Safety & Quality 
Date: 25 November 2026 
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands 

The European edition of the same series behind the Manchester event earlier in the year. This one closes out 2026 with a focus on traceability, digitalisation, resilient supply chains and evolving EU regulation — a fitting bookend for teams benchmarking compliance progress before year-end.

How these events will shape the year ahead for the food industry 

Industry events continue to be essential for understanding regulatory change, sustainability expectations and shifting global pressures across the supply chain. They provide valuable insight that helps teams benchmark performance, strengthen compliance frameworks and adapt to emerging challenges. 

By attending the events outlined above, Foods Connected remains closely connected to the evolving needs of the industry - enabling us to support partners with practical digital tools that simplify risk management, improve visibility and strengthen operational control.